Thermal regenerator



Aug. 4, 1959 H. J. vERBEl-:K

THERMAL REGENERATOR Filed Sepf.. 19, 1957 INVENTOR HENDRIK JozEF VERBEEK AGENT United States Patent O THERMAL REGENERATOR Hendrik Jozef Verbeek, Eindhoven, Netherlands, assignor to North American Philips Company, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 19, 1957, Serial No. 684,945

Claims priority, application Netherlands September 27, 1956 4 Claims. (Cl. 257-262.1)

This invention relates to thermal regenerators, more especially but not exclusively for use in thermo-dynamic apparatus Iand comprising a housing containing lling material. The term thermo-dynamic apparatus is to be understood to include hot-gas engines, refrigerators and heat pumps, the two last-mentioned types of apparatus operating according to the reverse hotagas engine principle.

It is known to equip these apparatuses with a regenerator containing filling material 'which consists of thin resilient wire and, as a result of the resilience of the wire, engages the wall of the regenerator housing with a certain tension, thus ensuring a satisfactory position of the lling material against the wall of the regenerator housing, while, if desired, the filling material may be attached to the wall throughout its periphery.

If, however, the filler consists of a material which is not resilient in a `sense at right angles to the main direction of flow of the gas through the regenerator consisting, for example of a number of layers of gauze extending at right angles to the main direction of flow of the gas through the regenerator, or in the case of a regenerator Whose filling material is sintered, the sealing of the filling material with regard to the wall may entail difficulties. According to the invention this disadvantage is mitigated by making the regenerator housing from elastic material surrounding the iilling material with a certain tension. The material of the wall may, for example, be rubber or nylon. In this context, the term gauze is to be understood to include also thin perforated plates. The thickness of the wires of which the gauze is made, and the thickness of the plate Will preferably not exceed 200 microns. A wall of elastic material is capable of exibly taking considerable gas pressures occurring inside the regenerator, so that the wall may become deformed with resulting escape of gas along the Wall or fracturing of the wall itself.

In order to prevent the filling material becoming separated from the wall, so that escape of gas may occur, the wall is caused to adhere to the filling material in a suitable embodiment of the invention. This may, for example, be effected in known manner by providing the wall internally with solder or glue.

Alternatively, the regenerator wall may be braced by a supporting wall.

The wall of elastic material is preferably poorly heatconductive; this, however, will often not be necessary with respect of the supporting wall.

ICC

In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, an example will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which a regenerator comprises a supporting wall. The regenerator contains lling material made up of stacked pieces of wire gauze and surrounded by a Wall 2 consisting of elastic material. In this context, the term elastic material is to be understood to mean a material having an elasticity modulus of less than 50,000 leg/cm.2 at room temperature.

The wall 2 is cylindrical and stretched prior to introducing the gauze pieces, so that the wall surrounds the filling material with a certain tension after introduction of the gauze pieces. The gauze pieces extend at right angles to the main direction of ow 3 of the gas through the regenerator.

The wall 2 is surrounded by a supporting wall 4 capable of taking the forces exerted on the wall 2 due to the gas pressure.

It is possible to form the supporting wall, for example consisting of metal, prior to introducing the regenerator. Alternatively, the supporting wall may be made from a material, for example synthetic resin, which is provided on the elastic wall after slipping the latter on the gauze pieces, so that the supporting wall is formed later.

If desired, the wall 2 may be internally provided with a layer of glue causing the filling material to adhere to this wall.

What is claimed is:

1. A thermal regenerator, more especially but not exclusively for use in thermo-dynamic apparatus, and comprising a housing which contains filling material, characterized in that the wall of the regenerator housing is made from elastic material and surrounds the filling material with a certain tension.

2. A thermal regenerator as claimed in claim l, characterized in that the lling material is made up of a number of layers of gauze extending at right angles to the main direction of ilow of the lgas through the regenerator.

3. A thermal regenerator of the type suitable for use in thermo-dynamic apparatus comprising a housing containing lling material, the wall of said housing being made from elastic material and engaging the filling material with a certain tension, said wall adhering to said filling material.

4. A thermal regenerator of the type suitable for use in therrno-dynamic apparatus comprising a housing containing lling material, the Wall of said housing being made from elastic material and engaging the lilling material with a certain tension, and a supporting wall on the exterior of said Wall for bracing the latter.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,587,252 Van Weenen et al. Feb. 26, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 702,640 Great Britain Ian. 20, 1954 157,334 Australia June 29, 1954 80,505 Denmark Feb. 6, 1956 

